2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER brake

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1082001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Your automatic transmission has a shift
lock system to minimize the possibility of
incorrect operation. This means you can
only shift out of “P” position when the
brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition
switch in “ON” position and the lock re-
lease button depressed).
(a) Selector lever
The shift position is also displayed on the
instrument cluster.
P:Parking, engine starting and
key removal
R:Reverse
N:Neutral
D:Normal driving (with overdrive on)
2:Stronger engine braking
L:Maximum engine braking Fourwheel drive models
Lock release button
To prevent misshifting
With the brake pedal depressed,
shift while holding the lock release
button in. (The ignition switch must
be in “ON” position.)
Shift while holding the lock
release button in.
Shift normally.Selector lever
Overdrive switch
Driving pattern
selector button
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1092001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(b) Overdrive switch
You can select either third gear (with
overdrive off) or fourth gear (with over-
drive on) by pushing this switch.
To turn the overdrive off, push the switch.
The “O/D OFF” indicator light should come
on. To turn the overdrive on again, push
the switch again. The “O/D OFF” indicator
light should go off.
Always drive your vehicle with the over-
drive on for better fuel economy and
quieter driving.
If the engine is turned off when the over-
drive is off and restarted, the overdrive
will be on automatically.Vehicles with cruise control—When the
cruise control is being used, even if you
downshift the transmission by pushing and
releasing the overdrive switch, engine
braking will not be enabled because the
cruise control is not cancelled.
For ways to decrease the vehicle speed,
see “Cruise control” in this section.
(c) Normal driving
1. Start the engine as instructed in “How
to start the engine” in Section 3. The
transmission must be in “P” or “N”.
When the front drive control lever is in
“L4” (lowspeed position, fourwheel
drive), the driving pattern selector setting
has no effect on gear shift timing. (See
“Fourwheel drive system” in this section
for information of the front drive control
lever.)
2. With your foot holding down the brake
pedal, shift the selector lever to “D”.
When the lever is in the “D” position, the
automatic transmission system will select
the most suitable gear for running condi-
tions such as normal cruising, hill climb-
ing, hard towing, etc.Always turn the overdrive on for better
fuel economy and quieter driving. If the
engine coolant temperature is low or when
the front drive control lever is in “L4”
(lowspeed position, fourwheel drive), the
transmission will not shift into the over-
drive gear even with the overdrive on.
(See “Fourwheel drive system” in this
section for information of the front drive
control lever.)
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting.
3. Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.
(d) Using engine braking
To use engine braking, you can downshift
the transmission as follows:
Push the overdrive switch. The “O/D
OFF” indicator light will come on and
the transmission will downshift to third
gear.
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
1112001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Do not continue hill climbing or
hard towing for a long time in the
“2” or “L” position. This may cause
severe automatic transmission dam-
age from overheating. To prevent
such damage, “D” position should
be used in hill climbing or hard
towing.
(f) Backing up
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the brake pedal held down with
your foot, shift the selector lever to the
“R” position.
NOTICE
Never shift into reverse while the ve-
hicle is moving.
(g) Parking
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the parking brake lever fully to
securely apply the parking brake.
3. With the brake pedal pressed down,
shift the selector lever to the “P” posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Never attempt to move the selector
lever into “P” position under any cir-
cumstances while the vehicle is mov-
ing. Serious mechanical damage and
loss of vehicle control may result.
(h) Good driving practice
If the transmission repeatedly shifts up
and down between third gear and over-
drive when climbing a gentle slope, the
overdrive should be turned off. Be sure
to turn the switch on immediately after-
ward.
When towing a trailer, in order to main-
tain engine braking efficiency, do not
use overdrive.
CAUTION
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle
from creeping.
NOTICE
Do not hold the vehicle on an up-
grade with the accelerator pedal. It
can cause the transmission to over-
heat. Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
11 32001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(k) If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of “P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the “P” position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override lever. For instructions, see “If you
cannot shift automatic transmission selec-
tor lever” in Section 4.
“H” (2WD) MODE
“H” (4WD) MODE (center
differential unlock), “L4”
MODE (center differential
unlock) or “N” MODE
“H” (4WD) MODE (center
differential lock), “L4”
MODE (center differential
lock) or “N” MODE
Use the front drive control lever, “4WD”
button and center differential lock
switch to select the transfer and center
differential modes.
The “H” and “L4” position of the front
drive control lever provide either lock or
unlock the mode of the center differential.
Use the center differential lock system if
your wheels get stuck in a ditch, or when
you are driving on a slippery or bumpy
surface. When the center differential is
locked, the vehicle skid control system is
automatically turned off and the center dif-
ferential lock and “VSC OFF” indicator
lights come on because the function that
controls engine performance interferes
with the process of freeing your wheels.
NOTICE
As soon as the center differential lock
switch is turned on, the “VSC OFF”
indicator light comes on. After the
wheels are out of the ditch or off the
slippery or bumpy surface, turn the
center differential lock switch off.
Make sure that the center differential
lock indicator light and “VSC OFF”
indicator light turn off.
Fourwheel drive system—
(a) Front drive control
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
11 52001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Advice for driving on slippery roads in
“L4” (low speed position) mode
If you shift the front drive control lever to
“L4” and the automatic transmission lever
to “2” when you drive in steep offroad
areas, the output of the brake can be
controlled effectively by the active traction
control system, which assists the driver to
control the driving power of 4 wheels.
Use the “L” position of the automatic
transmission lever for maximum power
and traction when your wheels get stuck
or when you drive down a steep incline.
In the following cases, the output of the
brake can be controlled by the active trac-
tion control system if the engine speed is
under 3000 rpm (normally engine speed is
under 3000 rpm when the wheels get un-
stuck).
The front drive control lever in the “L4”
position and the automatic transmission
lever in the “L” position or the automat-
ic transmission lever in the “D” or “2”
with the transmission downshifting to
the first gear
The front drive control lever in the “L4”
position and the automatic transmission
lever in the “R” position(As for the automatic transmission lever
positions, see “Automatic transmission” in
this section.)The A.D.D. can be engaged or disen-
gaged by the shifting operations des-
cribed in “(c) Shifting procedure”.
You should drive in fourwheel drive for
at least 16 km (10 miles) each month.
This will assure that the front drive com-
ponents are lubricated.
(b) A.D.D. (automatic
disconnecting differential)
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
11 62001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
(c) Shifting procedure
SHIFTING BETWEEN “H” (2WD) MODE
AND “H” (4WD) MODE
To shift from “H” (2WD) mode to “H”
(4WD) mode, reduce your speed to less
than 100 km/h (62 mph) and push in the
“4WD” button.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push in the “4WD” button, drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the “4WD”
button, reduce your speed or stop the
vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the “4WD” button if
wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping
or spinning before shifting.
To shift from “H” (4WD) mode to “H”
(2WD) mode, push the “4WD” button
again to turn it off.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push in the “4WD” button, drive straight
ahead while accelerating or decelerating,
or drive in reverse.SHIFTING BETWEEN “H” (4WD,
UNLOCKED) AND “H” (4WD LOCKED)
To shift from “H” (4WD, UNLOCKED) to
“H” (4WD, LOCKED), push in the center
differential lock switch.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push in the center differential lock switch,
drive straight ahead while accelerating or
decelerating.
If the indicator light flashes and the buzz-
er sounds when you push in the center
differential lock switch, reduce your speed
or stop the vehicle and reset.
CAUTION
Never push the center differential
lock button if wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before
shifting.
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in “H” (4WD, LOCKED) mode. This
may damage the locking mechanism
and the drive system.
To shift from “H” (4WD LOCKED) to
“H” (4WD UNLOCKED), left out the cen-
ter differential lock switch.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light flashes when you left
out the center differential lock switch,
drive straight ahead while accelerating or
decelerating, or drive in reverse.
SHIFTING BETWEEN “H” AND “L4”
Stop the vehicle and put the transmission
in “N”. With your foot holding down the
brake pedal, move the front drive control
lever.
If the indicator light flashes when you
move the front drive control lever, drive
straight ahead while accelerating or decel-
erating.
CAUTION
Never move the front drive control
lever if wheels are slipping. Stop the
slipping or spinning before shifting.
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
11 72001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in “L4” (LOCKED) mode. This may
damage the locking mechanism and
the drive system.
SHIFTING BETWEEN “L4” (UNLOCKED)
AND “L4” (LOCKED)
To shift between unlock and lock
modes in “L”, push the center differential
lock switch.
This can be done at any vehicle speed.
If the indicator light flashes when you
push the center differential lock switch,
drive straight ahead while accelerating or
decelerating.
CAUTION
Never push the center differential
lock switch if wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before
shifting.
NOTICE
Do not drive on a dry paved surface
in “L4” (LOCKED) mode. This may
damage the locking mechanism and
the drive system.
The traction control system automatical-
ly helps control the spinning of rear
wheels which may occur when acceler-
ating on slippery road surfaces, by con-
trolling the output of the brake and en-
gine. Thus, the system assists driver to
control the driving power of rear
wheels.
When you turn the ignition switch on, the
traction control system always turns on
automatically, and the slip indicator light
will come on. The indicator lights will go
off after about a few seconds.
If the slip indicator lights is left on after
the ignition is turned on, have your ve-
hicle checked by your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Traction control system
(twowheel drive models)
ProCarManuals.com

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)
11 82001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)
Leave the system on during ordinary driv-
ing so that it can operate when needed.
When traction control is applied, the slip
indicator light blinks.
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when the
engine is started or just after the vehicle
is started. This means that the traction
control system is in the selfcheck mode,
and does not indicate malfunction. When
the traction control system is operating,
you may feel vibration or noise of your
vehicle, caused by operation of the
brakes. This indicates the system is func-
tioning properly.
When getting the vehicle out of mud or
new snow, etc. the traction control system
will help operate to prevent the wheels
from spinning.
You can turn off the traction control
system by pushing the “TRAC OFF”
switch. The “TRAC OFF” indicator light
will come on. Pushing the “TRAC OFF”
switch a second time turns on the trac-
tion control system again and the
“TRAC OFF” indicator light will go off.
The traction control system will automati-
cally go on, and the “TRAC OFF” indicator
light will go off when you drive over 30
km/h (19 mph) even if the “TRAC OFF”
switch is pushed to cancel the traction
control system.If your wheels get stuck in a ditch or
when you are driving on a slippery or
bumpy surface, turn off the traction control
system because its function that controls
engine performance interferes with the
process of freeing your wheels.
ProCarManuals.com